Improper seatbelt usage detection

ABSTRACT

A system for detecting improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle includes a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back. A shoulder belt and a lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat. The system includes a sensor module associated with the shoulder belt and the lap belt. The sensor module generates signals indicative of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle seat, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat. The system also includes a controller that receives the signals indicative of the at least one parameter associated with the seat back, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt. The controller analyzes the received one or more signals, and determines whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the analysis.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/595,257,entitled “Improper Seatbelt Usage Detection”, filed Dec. 6, 2017, whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made partof the present U.S. Utility patent application for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to seatbelt systems in vehicles. Morespecifically, the present disclosure relates to detection of improperusage of seatbelt in vehicles.

BACKGROUND

It is well known that properly-worn seatbelts save lives during vehicleaccidents. A seatbelt system typically comprises a retractor, D-ring orbelt guide, a buckle and associated tongue, lower belt restraint anchorand seatbelt webbing. Generally, the seatbelt webbing (or seatbelt) isdivided into a lap (belt) portion and a shoulder (belt) portion.Seatbelt for occupants on a vehicle's side typically include a shoulderbelt intended to be worn across the occupant's upper torso and a lapbelt intended to be worn across the lap. For safety-belt systems to beeffective, seatbelts must be worn as intended. However, occupants do notalways wear the seatbelts as indented. For example, occupants have beenobserved wearing the shoulder belt portion belt behind their backs, theshoulder belt portion under their arms, or hold another occupant ontheir lap. Current monitoring systems cannot determine whether anoccupant is properly using a seatbelt. Thus, there is a need for asystem that detects improper use of seatbelt.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a restraint system to detect improperusage of seatbelt. The restraint system includes a seatbelt, typicallywith a shoulder belt portion and a lap belt portion. The system includesa sensor module to ensure proper seatbelt use. In certain embodiments,the sensor module includes sensors embedded within the seat itself (forexample in the seat trim), or uses the seat as part of the sensor, todetermine if a seatbelt is worn properly. In embodiments, the sensormodule includes one or more sensors, such as inertial sensors orradio-frequency (RF) beacons, in the seatbelt. The system also includesa controller to control that receives signals from the sensors anddetermines improper seatbelt usage.

In embodiments, sensor module includes a capacitance sensor formedbetween the seatbelt, such as the shoulder belt or lap belt, and seat,for example, the seat back. The sensor module may measure the mutualcapacitance between the seat back and seatbelt. In other embodiments,the sensor module may measure the self capacitance of the seatbelt. Inembodiments, the sensor module includes inertial sensors, which generatesignals that the controller uses to determine shape and orientation ofshoulder belt and lap belt to determine any improper seatbelt usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary vehicle according to certain embodimentsof the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the interior of the exemplary vehicle shown in FIG.1, according to certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat showing properusage of seatbelt, according to certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a system to detect improper usage of seatbelt by occupantsitting on vehicle seat, according to certain embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of system to detect improper usageof seatbelt, according to certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows an example of improper usage of seatbelt, and detection ofthe same, according to certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows another example of improper usage of seatbelt, anddetection of the same, according to certain embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 8 shows another exemplary embodiment of system to detect improperusage of seatbelt, according to certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows an example of improper usage of seatbelt, and detection ofthe same, according to certain embodiments of the invention.

Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are bestunderstood by referring to the detailed description that follows. Thedescription herein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of thepresent disclosure and not for purposes of limiting it.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary vehicle 100. Vehicle 100 may be apassenger car, truck, sport utility vehicle, or van. Vehicle 100includes a frame 102 that is supported by a set of wheels 104. Vehicle100 includes a power source (not shown) configured to propel vehicle100. Vehicle 100 may be a manually driven vehicle, a semi-autonomousvehicle, or an autonomous vehicle. Vehicle 100 may include any suitablearrangement of vehicle seats 106 (shown in FIG. 2 onwards) insidevehicle 100 to accommodate passengers. For example, vehicle 100 mayinclude two rows of vehicle seats having driver seat in front. Anotherexemplary arrangement is provided in FIG. 2. It should be understoodthat vehicle 100 may include various other essential and non-essentialcomponents which are not being discussed in context of presentdisclosure, as present disclosure is not limited by any such componentsin any manner.

FIG. 2 shows vehicle 100 as an autonomously driven vehicle havingvehicle seats 106 provided such that occupants 202 sitting on vehicleseats 106 face each other. In embodiments, vehicle 100 is notautonomously driven. Vehicle 100 includes safety systems for ensuringsafety of occupants 202 while riding in vehicle 100 in case of anunwanted event such as a crash, a sudden acceleration, or decelerationetc. One of such system is a seatbelt system. Seatbelt system includesseatbelts associated with each of vehicle seats 106 to ensure occupants202 are seated on vehicle seats 106 in case of an unwanted event.

FIG. 3 schematically shows occupant 202 sitting on vehicle seat 106.Vehicle seat 106 includes a seat back 302 and a seat cushion 304. Aseatbelt 306 is provided to ensure safety of occupant 202 sitting onvehicle seat 106. Seatbelt 306 includes a shoulder belt 308 and a lapbelt 310. Shoulder belt 308 and lap belt 310 together restrain occupant202 sitting on vehicle seat 106. Shoulder belt 308 is intended to passover the shoulder of occupant 202, and lap belt 310 is intended to passover the lap of occupant 202, and is an example of a proper wearing ofthe seatbelt. When properly used, seatbelt 306 restrains occupant 202sitting on vehicle seat 106 and ensures safety of occupant 202. Itshould be understood that seatbelt system may include various otherstructural components such as a retractor, D-ring or belt guide, abuckle and associated tongue, lower belt restraint anchor etc., whichare not being discussed in context of present disclosure, as presentdisclosure is not limited by any such components in any manner. Incertain embodiments, may involve a one-piece seat without a clearlydefined cushion and back portion, similar to a hammock. A person ofskill will understand that the cushion portion to refer to the regionwhere an occupant's buttocks and/or upper legs are intended to contactthe seat. A person of skill in the art would similarly understand thatthe inventions described herein could be applied to future belt conceptsthat do not have a lap belt, for example, a three-point restraint systemor a restraint system similar to a roller coaster top-down restraintsystem. In such restraint systems, a person of skill would understandthat the restraint or restraint belt may contain sensors or be part of asensing system in the same manner as described herein for the lap beltand shoulder belt.

FIG. 4 illustrates a system 400 to detect improper usage of seatbelt 306according to certain embodiments. System 400 includes vehicle seat 106having seat back 302 and seat cushion 304. System 400 includes seatbelt306 having shoulder belt 308 and lap belt 310. System 400 furtherincludes a sensor module 402 associated with vehicle seat 106, shoulderbelt 308 and lap belt 310. Sensor module 402 may be a single sensor, ora group of multiple sensors. Sensor module 402 may be configured togenerate signals indicative of at least one parameter associated withvehicle seat 106, shoulder belt 308, and lap belt 310 while occupant 202is sitting on vehicle seat 106. Sensor module 402 may be found withinseatbelt 306, seat back 302, and seat cushion 304 and is shown withcrosshatched lines (//) to so indicate. The crosshatching between sensormodule 402 and controller 404 indicates that the connection between thetwo may be wired, wireless, or via another connection method. The twomay also be integrated together.

System 400 further includes a controller 404. Controller 404 may be asingle controller, or multiple controllers grouped together, amicroprocessor, field programmable gate array (FPGA), or any other suchdevice which may be configured to perform all desired functions ofcontroller 404. Controller 404 includes an associated memory 406. Memory406 may store data regarding usage of vehicle 100, occupant profiles ofoccupants 202 which use vehicle 100 such as, but not limited to,information about weight, height, posture of occupants 202 etc. Memory406 may also store any other such information which may be suitable foruse with various aspects of present disclosure. Controller 404 receivesignals generated by sensor module 402, and analyzes received signals.Controller 404 determines whether seatbelt 306 is being used improperlybased on analysis of signals. In certain embodiments, the mutualcapacitance between the seat back and the shoulder belt 308 isdetermined. In other embodiments, the mutual capacitance between theseat cushion and the shoulder belt 308 is determined. Controller 404 maydetermine, or otherwise use, a range of acceptable capacitance values,indicative of proper seatbelt usage, and/or a range of values indicatingimproper seatbelt usage. Controller 404 may determine proper or improperseatbelt usage for both the shoulder belt and lap belt jointly orindependently.

FIG. 5 shows another aspect of the present disclosure, according tocertain embodiments. Sensor module 402 includes a first capacitancesensor 502, and a second capacitance sensor 504. The first capacitancesensor 502 and second capacitance sensor 504 may form a single sensor inwhich mutual capacitance is determined. Capacitance sensor may be anytype of a sensor, or part thereof. In embodiments, the first capacitancesensor 502 is integrated into the seat back 302, such as in the trim ofthe seat back. First capacitance sensor 502 may be integrated with afabric of seat back 302, or may be provided in form of conductive fibersor yarns embedded within seat back 302. Second capacitance sensor 504may be integrated with a fabric of shoulder belt 308, or may be providedin form of conductive fibers or yarns embedded with shoulder belt 308.Together, the first capacitance sensor 502 and the second capacitancesensor 504 are used to measure the mutual capacitance between the seatback 302 and shoulder belt 308, which will be different depending onwhether the occupant 202 is sitting on vehicle seat 106 and properlyusing the seatbelt 306 or not. Alternatively, the first capacitancesensor 502 or second capacitive sensor may measure self capacitance,which similarly provides different measurements depending on whether anoccupant is seated on the vehicle seat 106 and seatbelt 306 is usedproperly or not. Controller 404 is configured to receive first signaland second signal. Controller 404 may include suitable communicationhardware components such as transmitter, receiver, or transceiver etc.to receive signals.

Controller 404 receives signals from sensor module 402 and analyzes themto determine if a seatbelt is properly installed. In certainembodiments, the mutual capacitance between the seat back and theshoulder belt 308 is determined. In other embodiments, the mutualcapacitance between the seat cushion and the shoulder belt 308 isdetermined. Controller 404 may determine, or otherwise use, a range ofacceptable capacitance values, indicative of proper seatbelt usage,and/or a range of values indicating improper seatbelt usage. Controller404 may determine proper or improper seatbelt usage for both theshoulder belt and lap belt jointly or independently. In anotherembodiment, the controller may compare mutual capacitance value from themutual capacitance of the shoulder belt 308 and the seat back 302 to themutual capacitance of the lap belt 310 to the seat cushion 304 todetermine if the occupant is properly using the seat belt.

In certain embodiment, controller 404 may have a threshold value of themutual capacitance stored in associated memory 406. Controller 404 maycompare the calculated mutual capacitance to this stored thresholdvalue. When seatbelt 306 is used properly, the measured capacitance islower than (or above in certain embodiments) the threshold value. If themeasured capacitance fails this comparison, then controller 404 maydetermine improper seatbelt usage, which may result in a warning.Repeated warnings may cause the disabling of driving (for example, whenthe vehicle is autonomously driven). Threshold values may be pre-storedin memory 406 based on one or more occupant profiles of occupants 202 ofvehicle 100. In certain embodiments, the threshold values may be ratiosof measured capacitance. In other embodiments, the measured capacitanceprofile is compared to stored reference profiles in associated memory406 established by machine learning to determine a most probable stateof seatbelt usage.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary scenario of improper usage of seatbelt 306that may be determined according to the present disclosure. Twooccupants 202 are illustrated. A first occupant 602 is sitting onvehicle seat 106, and is wearing seatbelt 306. A second occupant 604 isillustrated as sitting on lap of first occupant 602, and is not wearingseatbelt 306. The present disclosure detects improper usage of seatbelt306 in such a scenario. First capacitance sensor 502 measures selfcapacitance at the seat back 302, and second capacitance sensor 504measures capacitance at shoulder belt 308. Capacitance measured by firstcapacitance sensor 502 provides measurement according to one body i.e.only for first occupant 602. Capacitance measured by second capacitancesensor 504 provides measurement according to two bodies i.e. both firstoccupant 602 and second occupant 604. Controller 404 receives signalsfrom the measurements and analyzes the signals to determine whethermultiple occupants 202 are present and thus improperly using seatbelt306. In other embodiments, sensor module 402 uses the mutual capacitancebetween the seat and the seatbelt 306 and the self capacitance of eitherthe seat or seatbelt to determine improper seatbelt usage.

FIG. 7 shows another exemplary scenario of improper seatbelt usage whenoccupant 202 has placed shoulder belt 308 under his arm instead ofplacing shoulder belt 308 above his shoulder. In this case, firstcapacitance sensor 502 located within seat back 302 and secondcapacitance sensor 504 located within shoulder belt 308 sense capacitiveinteraction between seat back 302 and shoulder belt 308. Seat back 302and shoulder belt 308 may also be equipped with wireless communicationcomponents, such that controller 404 may detect when they are comingcloser than a threshold distance to each other. Controller 404 receivessignals from both first capacitance sensor 502 and second capacitancesensor 504, and determines improper usage of seatbelt 306 based ondetected capacitive interaction between first capacitance sensor 502 andsecond capacitance sensor 504. In certain embodiments, sensor module 402emits a wireless signal through capacitance sensor 502 and controller404 receives signals from capacitance sensor 504. In other embodiments,sensor module 402 emits a wireless signal through capacitance sensor 504and controller 404 receives signals from capacitance sensor 502. Otherimproper seatbelt usage includes the occupant placing shoulder beltbehind the occupant's body, a belt bypass system in which the seatbeltis clipped in an extended position, latching the seatbelt, but sittingon top of it, a child sitting with a lap belt that hits the child aroundthe neck because the child is not sitting on a booster seat, or anoccupant has fake visual belt, such as a stripe across the occupant'sshirt that can bypass a machine vision camera safety system looking fora belt. These cases can be similarly determined using the capacitancemeasurements in similar manners.

FIG. 8 shows yet another aspect of present disclosure. Sensor module 402includes an inertial sensor 802. Inertial sensor 802 is integrated withshoulder belt 308 and lap belt 310. Inertial sensors generate signalsthat controller 404 uses to determine spatial orientation of shoulderbelt 308 and lap belt 310. Inertial sensor 802 may be an accelerometer,a gyroscope, or any other type of a device which may be used to measurespatial orientation. Controller 404 receives signals generated byinertial sensor 802 and determines an orientation profile of shoulderbelt 308 and lap belt 310 based on received signals. Orientation profilemay refer to any type of an orientation or mapping system that describesthe three-dimensional orientation of the shoulder belt 308 and/or lapbelt 310. This orientation may include the orientation of the shoulderbelt 308 and lap belt 310 relative to vehicle seat 106 and occupant 202sitting on vehicle seat 106. In certain embodiments, controller 404compares the determined orientation or mapping compared to a pre-storedorientation profile of the shoulder belt 308 or as lap belt 310 todetermine whether seatbelt 306 is being used properly. Controller 404may compare a determined orientation profile (or range of orientations)with pre-stored orientation profile. The comparison may include a rangeof acceptable orientation angles at for heights above the seat cushion304 or other reference point. In certain embodiments, controller 404 maycompare signals received from inertial sensor 802 to signal receivedfrom another inertial sensor in vehicle 100 to account for vehiclemovement affecting inertial sensor 802.

For example, FIG. 9 shows an exemplary scenario when occupant 202 hasplaced shoulder belt 308 under his arm instead of placing shoulder belt308 above shoulder. In this case, inertial sensor module 802 integratedwith shoulder belt 308 and lap belt 310 generates signals thatcontroller 404 uses to determine the spatial orientation of shoulderbelt 308 and lap belt 310. Controller 404 then compares the determinedorientation of shoulder belt 308 and lap belt 310 to pre-storedorientation profiles of shoulder belt 308 and lap belt 310 respectivelycorresponding to proper usage of seatbelt 306. Alternatively, controller404 may compare a determined orientation profile (or range oforientations) with pre-stored orientation profile. The comparison mayinclude a range of acceptable orientation angles at for heights abovethe seat cushion 304 or other reference point. When the shoulder belt308 passes under arm of occupant 202, the orientation profile ofshoulder belt 308 will be different than the pre-stored orientationprofile corresponding to proper usage of seatbelt 306. For example, whenused properly, shoulder belt 308 may be almost horizontal near theoccupant's shoulder, so excess tilt in that area may indicate shoulderbelt 308 being tucked under one's arm or wrapping around the side ofone's neck. Similarly, when properly used, lap belt 310 may behorizontal or around 45 degrees, with higher degrees of tilt indicatinglap belt 310 is too high (going around abdomen) and no tilt at allindicating that the belt is under the occupant. Thus, controller 404determines seatbelt 306 is being used improperly based on comparisonbetween determined orientation profile and pre-stored orientationprofile of shoulder belt 308 and lap belt 310. In other embodiments, anRF beacon, an infrared tag, or another sensor is used instead of, or inaddition to, an inertial sensor, to determine improper seatbelt usage.

In other embodiments, an RF beacon is used instead of, or in additionto, an inertial sensor, to determine improper seatbelt usage. Otherimproper seatbelt usage includes the occupant placing the shoulder beltbehind the occupant's body, a belt bypass system in which the seatbeltis clipped in an extended position, latching the seatbelt, but sittingon top of it, a child sitting with a lap belt that hits the child aroundthe neck because the child is not sitting on a booster seat, or anoccupant has fake visual belt, such as a stripe across the occupant'sshirt. These cases can be similarly determined using the inertial or RFbeacon measurements. In other embodiments, the inertial sensors (and/orRF beacons and/or infrared tags) and capacitance sensors are bothpresent to determine improper seatbelt usage. In certain embodiments,controller 404 may classify the occupant or child seat using informationreceived. In other embodiments, controller 404 determine the posture ofthe occupant using information received.

After determining improper usage of seatbelt 306, controller 404 mayissue a warning, a notification, sound an alarm, or may even not allowto operate vehicle 100 until seatbelt 306 is used properly. A warningmay be a text message displayed on display system of vehicleinfotainment system, or an alarm sounding on vehicle infotainmentsystem, a text message to registered mobile number of occupant, etc.Controller 404 may perform any other type of follow up actions as wellto ensure proper usage of seatbelt 306 while driving vehicle 100. Thepresent disclosure is not limited by any such follow up actions in anymanner.

The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the present disclosureto the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. As such, itis contemplated that various alternate embodiments and/or modificationsto the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or impliedherein, are possible in light of the disclosure. Having thus describedembodiments of the present disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the presentdisclosure is limited only by the claims.

In the foregoing specification, the disclosure has been described withreference to specific embodiments. However, as one skilled in the artwill appreciate, various embodiments disclosed herein can be modified orotherwise implemented in various other ways without departing from thespirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, this description is tobe considered as illustrative and is for the purpose of teaching thoseskilled in the art the manner of making and using various embodiments ofthe disclosed air vent assembly. It is to be understood that the formsof disclosure herein shown and described are to be taken asrepresentative embodiments. Equivalent elements, materials, processes orsteps may be substituted for those representatively illustrated anddescribed herein. Moreover, certain features of the disclosure may beutilized independently of the use of other features, all as would beapparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of thisdescription of the disclosure. Expressions such as “including”,“comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, “is” used todescribe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construedin a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components orelements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to thesingular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.

Further, various embodiments disclosed herein are to be taken in theillustrative and explanatory sense, and should in no way be construed aslimiting of the present disclosure. All joinder references (e.g.,attached, affixed, coupled, connected, and the like) are only used toaid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and may notcreate limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or useof the systems and/or methods disclosed herein. Therefore, joinderreferences, if any, are to be construed broadly. Moreover, such joinderreferences do not necessarily infer that two elements are directlyconnected to each other.

Additionally, all numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, “first”,“second”, “third”, “primary”, “secondary”, “main” or any other ordinaryand/or numerical terms, should also be taken only as identifiers, toassist the reader's understanding of the various elements, embodiments,variations and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and may notcreate any limitations, particularly as to the order, or preference, ofany element, embodiment, variation and/or modification relative to, orover, another element, embodiment, variation and/or modification.

It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted inthe drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated orintegrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certaincases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application.Additionally, any signal hatches in the drawings/figures should beconsidered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwisespecifically specified.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for detecting improper usage of aseatbelt of a vehicle, the system comprising: a vehicle seat having aseat cushion and a seat back; a shoulder belt and a lap belt, whereinthe shoulder belt and lap belt are intended to restrain an occupantsitting on the vehicle seat; a first sensor module associated with theshoulder belt and the lap belt, the first sensor module configured togenerate one or more signals indicative of at least one parameterassociated with the vehicle seat in combination with the occupantsitting on the vehicle seat; a second sensor module associated with thevehicle seat, the second sensor module configured to generate one ormore signals indicative of at least one parameter associated with thevehicle seat in combination with the occupant sitting on the vehicleseat; a controller configured to: receive the one or more signals fromthe first sensor module and the second sensor module; analyze thereceived one or more signals from the first sensor module and the secondsensor module; and determine whether the seatbelt is being usedimproperly by the occupant, based on the analysis.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the sensor module comprises a capacitance sensor. 3.The system of claim 2, wherein the capacitance sensor is a mutualcapacitance sensor formed between the seat back and the shoulder belt.4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mutual capacitance sensor isformed in part by using a conductive material within the seat back. 5.The system of claim 3, wherein the mutual capacitance sensor is formedin part by using a conductive material integrated within the shoulderbelt.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module comprises aself-capacitance sensor formed using the seat back.
 7. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the sensor module further comprises self-capacitancesensor using the shoulder belt.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein thesensor module further comprises self-capacitance sensor using the lapbelt.
 9. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to: compare a calculated mutual capacitance with a thresholdvalue; and determine improper usage of the seatbelt by the occupant, ifthe calculated mutual capacitance exceeds the threshold value.
 10. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the threshold value is pre-determined basedon an occupant profile.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensormodule is an inertial sensor module.
 12. The system of claim 11, whereinthe one or more signals indicative of at least one parameter includesignals indicative of a spatial orientation of the shoulder belt. 13.The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:receive the signals indicative of the spatial orientation of theshoulder belt; determine an orientation profile of the shoulder beltbased on the received signals; and determine whether the seatbelt isbeing used improperly by the occupant, based on the determinedorientation profile.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controlleris further configured to: compare the orientation profile of theshoulder belt with a pre-stored orientation profile of the shoulderbelt, wherein the pre-stored orientation profile corresponds to a properusage of the seatbelt; and determine improper usage of the seatbelt bythe occupant, based on the comparison.
 15. A system for detecting animproper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle, the system comprising: avehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back; a shoulder belt anda lap belt, wherein the shoulder belt and the lap belt are intended torestrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat; a first capacitancesensor disposed with the seat back, wherein the first capacitance sensoris configured to generate a first signal indicative of self capacitancemeasured at the seat back when the occupant is sitting on the vehicleseat; a second capacitance sensor disposed with the shoulder belt,wherein the second sensor is configured to generate a second signalindicative of self capacitance measured at the shoulder belt when theoccupant is sitting on the vehicle seat; a controller configured to:receive the first signal indicative of self capacitance measured at theseat back; receive the second signal indicative of self capacitancemeasured at the shoulder belt; compare the first signal and the secondsignal; and determine the improper usage of the seatbelt by the occupantbased on the comparison.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein thecontroller is further configured to: calculate a difference between thefirst signal and the second signal; and compare the calculateddifference with a threshold value; and determine improper usage of theseatbelt by the occupant, if the calculated difference exceeds thethreshold value.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the thresholddifference value is pre-determined based on an occupant profile.
 18. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein the first capacitance sensor is integratedwithin a fabric of the seat back.
 19. The system of claim 15, whereinthe second capacitance sensor is integrated within a fabric of theshoulder belt.
 20. A system for detecting an improper usage of aseatbelt of a vehicle, the system comprising: a vehicle seat; a shoulderbelt and a lap belt, wherein the shoulder belt and lap belt are intendedto restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat; an inertialmeasurement sensor associated with the shoulder belt, wherein theinertial measurement sensor generates a first signal indicative of aspatial orientation of the shoulder belt when the occupant is sitting onthe vehicle seat; a capacitance sensor disposed with the seat back,wherein the capacitance sensor is configured to generate a second signalindicative of self capacitance measured at the seat back when theoccupant is sitting on the vehicle seat; and a controller configured to:receive the first signals indicative of the spatial orientation of theshoulder belt; receive the second signals indicative of self capacitancemeasured at the seat back; determine an orientation profile of theshoulder belt based on the received first signals; and determine whetherthe seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on thedetermined orientation profile and the received second signals.
 21. Thesystem of claim 20, wherein the controller is further configured to:compare the orientation profile of the shoulder belt with a pre-storedorientation profile of the shoulder belt; and determine improper usageof the seatbelt by the occupant, based on the comparison.
 22. The systemof claim 21, wherein the pre-stored orientation profile corresponds to aproper usage of the seatbelt.